DSK Benelli is all set for the DSK Benelli Leoncino India launch by early 2018. The bike was slated to launch this year itself but local sourcing of quality parts is often a tedious process and the company has always focussed on delivering quality products at a reasonable price. The Leoncino was initially showcased at EICMA 2015 along with the scrambler version which will not be launching for now.
The DSK Benelli Leoncino was recently spotted testing in the country and is the road-guise version we will be getting for now. DSK Benelli will be bringing in the new bike via CKD route to keep the price in check. The cherry on top is that the bike will be priced lower to that of the Harley Davidson Street 750 which currently retails for INR 5.14 lakh. The officials at the firm confirmed that the scrambler version is not being considered for launch in the country right now and the final decision will be based on the demand for the same.
DSK Benelli Leoncino India variant derives its power from a 499cc liquid cooled, fuel injected, parallel twin that churns out 49.6 hp at 8,500 rpm and 45 Nm torque at 5,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox with wet-clutch. The bike features a tubular steel-trellis frame and rides on 17-inch wheels on both ends. The Pirelli Angel ST tires come fitted as standard with sizes 120/70 and 160/60 R17 at front and rear respectively. The USD forks up front hold 50mm worth of travel while the rear gains a monoshock with 112mm travel.
The Leoncino’s seat height is set at 785mm and sits 145mm above the ground. The bike weighs 207 kg and all these qualities make the bike accessible and practical and it will appeal to a lot of buyers, who, otherwise would have to balance it on their tows. The 13.5-litre fuel tank might seem a tad small for a mid-capacity motorcycle but factor in the looks and overall practicality of the bike, it sure sounds like a winner to us.
The bike features 320mm twin-disc setup with four calipers at the front and 260mm disc with a single caliper at the rear. ABS will be offered as standard on the bike. Typical of DSK Benelli, the quality on offer will be top notch and the bike will come with a standard warranty of 2 years for hassle-free ownership. The company is upping their game in the nation with consecutive launches slated for next year, most of which will be assembled locally, hence, will hold a good value for money against their competitors.
Via- ACI
